however, davis said her anger at what might have been behind her daughter’s death soon led to thankfulness at lauren’s funeral.
“we said these are the things we are so thankful for,” davis said. “we were angry to a very small extent, but we also knew there was so much to be grateful for. that gratitude almost kicked in immediately.”
“the first year was blessedly cloaked in shock and i think this is how people survive,” davis said. “the mindset is that it is not even possible and it hasn’t happened. every single day you are realizing that your dreams have died, that your plans that you started making even before your child was born, the things you envisioned, the hopes you had, they are all gone. that’s part of the mourning process.”
davis closed a chapter in toronto and opened a new one on vancouver island, as she began writing her bestselling book, mourning has broken (2019). in it, davis writes about how she and her husband went on a journey. from grieving out loud with family, friends and listeners, to how the couple tried to pick up their lives after loss, davis says the parents were determined not to simply survive, but to reclaim joy.
“the last year, 2019, has been an absolute whirlwind,” davis said. “my book was published in february. it has been an incredible adventure and one that has been gratifying because this is something that i know that lauren felt that we needed to do. there’s hope and there’s light and you can keep going.”